RAND: Brian Michael Jenkins2015-08-02T11:30:51ZCopyright (c) 2015, The RAND CorporationRAND Corporationhttp://www.rand.org/about/people/j/jenkins_brian_michael.htmlThe 1970s and the Birth of Contemporary Terrorismhttp://www.rand.org/blog/2015/07/the-1970s-and-the-birth-of-contemporary-terrorism.html2015-07-30T10:47:00Z2015-07-30T10:47:00ZWhile terrorism worldwide has increased over the past four decades — and the threat of terrorism continues to dominate Americans' fears — the nearly 14 years since 9/11 have been tranquil on the home front compared to the violent 1970s.After Attacks in France, Tunisia, and Kuwait, West Must Do More to Fight Surge of Terrorist Attackshttp://www.rand.org/blog/2015/06/after-attacks-in-france-tunisia-and-kuwait-west-must.html2015-06-29T10:30:00Z2015-06-29T10:30:00ZThe terrorist attacks in France, Tunisia, and Kuwait are just the latest warnings that ISIS is turning its campaign into a global enterprise.TSA Flunked Its Security Test Big Time — Now What?http://www.rand.org/blog/2015/06/tsa-flunked-its-security-test-big-time-now-what.html2015-06-15T08:56:00Z2015-06-15T08:56:00ZWe have to accept that humans, no matter how well-trained they are or how dedicated they are to their mission, are just not very good at maintaining laser-like focus while performing repetitive tasks. That does not mean airport security can ever be completely given over to machines.Should There Be a Hostage Czar?http://www.rand.org/blog/2015/06/should-there-be-a-hostage-czar.html2015-06-01T11:30:00Z2015-06-01T11:30:00ZIn light of recent kidnappings ending in the deaths of American hostages, appointing a 'hostage czar' may seem like a sound idea. But the creation of a high-profile position for hostage issues raises policy questions and comes with operational risks.The Death of Hostages and High-Flying Illusionshttp://www.rand.org/blog/2015/05/the-death-of-hostages-and-high-flying-illusions.html2015-05-04T11:00:00Z2015-05-04T11:00:00ZRisk is unavoidable in fighting war or terrorism. Soldiers are sometimes felled by friendly fire, and civilians ostensibly on the sidelines become accidental targets. It is unrealistic to believe that such tragedies can always be prevented. Risks can be reduced but never entirely eliminated.There Will Be Battles in the Heart of Your Abodehttp://www.rand.org/pubs/testimonies/CT426z1.html2015-04-17T09:00:00Z2015-04-17T09:00:00ZDocument submitted on April 17, 2015 as an addendum to testimony presented before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on March 12, 2015.Inside the Terrorist Factoryhttp://www.rand.org/blog/2015/03/inside-the-terrorist-factory.html2015-03-30T10:00:00Z2015-03-30T10:00:00ZAs the civil wars in Syria and Iraq continue, they sharpen the sectarian divide between Sunnis and Shias, threatening the stability of the region and attracting a steady flow of foreign volunteers, effectively turning Syria and Iraq into a terrorist factory.The Continuing Lure of Violent Jihadhttp://www.rand.org/pubs/testimonies/CT429.html2015-03-24T09:30:00Z2015-03-24T09:30:00ZTestimony presented before the House Homeland Security Committee on March 24, 2015.The Allure of ISIS for Young Recruitshttp://www.rand.org/blog/2015/03/the-allure-of-isis-for-young-recruits.html2015-03-20T11:37:00Z2015-03-20T11:37:00ZPoverty and oppression may explain why people in some countries embrace violent extremism, but it does not account for the flow of Western volunteers or the dreamy allure of fighting for a faraway cause. Biographies of those who have reached out to participate in jihad suggest a variety of motives, including alienation, personal crises, dissatisfaction with empty spiritual lives, and adolescent rebellion. Containing Middle East Terrorhttp://www.rand.org/pubs/testimonies/CT427.html2015-03-17T09:00:00Z2015-03-17T09:00:00ZTestimony presented before the House Homeland Security Committee, Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security on March 17, 2015.There Will Be Battles in the Heart of Your Abodehttp://www.rand.org/pubs/testimonies/CT426.html2015-03-12T09:00:00Z2015-03-12T09:00:00ZTestimony presented before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on March 12, 2015.Different Countries, Different Ways of Countering Terrorismhttp://www.rand.org/blog/2015/03/different-countries-different-ways-of-countering-terrorism.html2015-03-02T23:00:00Z2015-03-02T23:00:00ZFrance and the United States follow different approaches in dealing with terrorist suspects. This divergence reflects differences in the threat, historical experience, law, available resources, and public attitudes. France faces a more serious terrorist threat than the U.S. does.Predicting the 'Dangerousness' of Potential Terroristshttp://www.rand.org/blog/2015/03/predicting-the-dangerousness-of-potential-terrorists.html2015-03-02T11:00:00Z2015-03-02T11:00:00ZPredicting 'dangerousness' of potential terrorists is a hit-and-miss endeavor. Unless someone is waving a gun, it is extremely difficult. Even with direct access to the subject, parole boards, suicide prevention units and even trained clinicians get it wrong.Attempting to Understand the Paris Attackshttp://www.rand.org/blog/2015/02/attempting-to-understand-the-paris-attacks.html2015-02-26T17:57:00Z2015-02-26T17:57:00ZThe investigation will eventually fill in some of the gaps in our knowledge of the events leading up to the attacks in Paris, but some questions will remain unanswered. Embedded in the unknowns are some of the chronic dilemmas faced by counterterrorist authorities everywhere.When Jihadis Come Marching Homehttp://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PE130-1.html2015-02-16T09:15:00Z2015-02-16T09:15:00ZThis Perspective seeks to examine the scope of the threat posed by Westerners who return to their homes after fighting in Syria and Iraq; what can be done to reduce the threat, and whether military action is necessary in combating it.ISIS's Calculated Barbarityhttp://www.rand.org/blog/2015/02/isiss-calculated-barbarity.html2015-02-10T10:30:00Z2015-02-10T10:30:00ZISIS's decision to murder its Jordanian hostage by burning him alive may turn out to be a strategic miscalculation, but it is not madness. Through self-selection, continued fighting, and the exaltation of unlimited violence, ISIS has created a cult whose members command and revel in displays of ever-increasing cruelty.Improving Domestic Security to Combat Today's Terrorist Threatshttp://www.rand.org/blog/2015/01/improving-domestic-security-to-combat-todays-terrorist.html2015-01-30T11:08:00Z2015-01-30T11:08:00ZToday, the U.S. confronts a multilayered terrorist threat and the recent spate of attacks in Europe underscores the necessity for ensuring that intelligence keeps up with it. Intelligence services must continue to prevent terrorist assaults dispatched from abroad, head off new shoe and underwear bombers, intercept individuals returning from jihadist fronts with terrorist intentions, while at the same time uncovering and thwarting homegrown plots.Eight Lessons from the Charlie Hebdo Attackhttp://www.rand.org/blog/2015/01/eight-lessons-from-the-charlie-hebdo-attack.html2015-01-23T12:47:00Z2015-01-23T12:47:00ZAmong the lessons to be learned from the attacks in Paris are that terrorism has many audiences, Al-Qaida remains a threat, would-be warriors are unconcerned with the schisms among jihadist camps, Europe has a more serious problem, such an attack could happen in the U.S., and intelligence is crucial.A Grim Choice: The Attempted Rescue of Hostageshttp://www.rand.org/blog/2014/12/a-grim-choice-the-attempted-rescue-of-hostages.html2014-12-19T10:00:00Z2014-12-19T10:00:00ZMany described the attempt to rescue Luke Somers from al Qaeda's affiliate in Yemen as 'botched,' suggesting it was badly or carelessly planned or executed. 'Desperate' may be more apt. Such measures aren't undertaken without a grim calculus weighing the chances of success against a range of other outcomes, most of which involve the hostages' doom.When Jihadis Come Marching Homehttp://www.rand.org/blog/2014/11/when-jihadis-come-marching-home.html2014-11-19T16:57:00Z2014-11-19T16:57:00ZThe existing pool of determined jihadists in America is very small and lacks training and experience, which fighting in Syria and Iraq would provide. Returning jihadi veterans would be more formidable adversaries. Still, the threat appears manageable using current U.S. laws and existing resources.